Waterproof remote control venus butterfly by Cal Exotics

Since the remote control venus butterfly is a wireless vibe, I find it best-suited for couple's play. My boyfriend received the remote lovingly gift-wrapped for Valentine's Day, and has kept it ever since. In fact, it's the only remote we own that he's never lost. It can be used as a reward system to motivate one to clean the house ("Thanks for doing the dishes, honey!" *click*), to spice up a dinner out, to stay awake during bad Jackie Chan movies (I speak from personal experience on this one), or for clitoral stimulation during doggy-style sex, since the straps don't get in the way.

This vibe is an egg that can be slid in and out of its sleeve, which effectively makes it two remote-controlled toys in one. If you get bored of using it as a clitoral vibe, take it out of the harness and use it like any other egg vibe-- It has its own cord for removal. Now this may be a given, but I wouldn't use it for anal play, as the cord on mine broke during its second use. Don't take your chances; get one meant specifically for anal use instead.

This toy is perfect for warming up, foreplay, and extra stimulation during sex, but I'd recommend something else for solo play. Think of it more as an appetizer, or something to be used in conjunction with another toy.

The straps are comfortable. I have very sensitive skin and am allergic to almost everything, but they don't irritate me at all. The silicone parts don't have an odd smell, or taste, though unless one needs to hide the remote very quickly I don't see the last point ever being an issue.

The sleeve for the egg is ribbed, which is definitely good for keeping it in place. In fact, be prepared to use a little lube to get the egg in an out (which adds extra cleaning later!) The sleeve itself is a nice, squishy TPR silicone, which can sit comfortably against the skin and provide a little cushion for the vibe on higher settings. Be careful, though, because the straps hook through silicone loops in the sleeve, and if you get cranky and haul on the egg you might tear one. As I did.

The remote and egg have the same velvety-soft feel, and are also silicone. The egg's retrieval loop is a plastic-coated wire, which, again, if you get especially cranky with the sleeve and don't use lube, will pop loose and become a plastic-coated string that suddenly gets in the way. (I need to play nicer with my toys. :( )

When I first took this little butterfly out of the packaging, I had a brief moment of panic at the tangle of straps in my hand. Where did they go?! Once I got into this thing, would I be able to get out of it again?

Thankfully, the answer is yes, and I soon moved onto the more pertinent question: Why would I ever want to get out of it again?

The straps are a blessing in disguise. Two go round the thighs to hold the vibe in place, and a third goes round the waist for extra security. This means that with careful adjustment, you can get your butterfly to sit exactly where you want it. It's the only strapped toy I own where the straps add rather than detract from the experience.

There have been questions about size issues for the straps, so here is an answer: I'm a size 14, and it fits me with plenty of room left over. I have a friend who bought one of these at my suggestion a few weeks ago, and at a size 4 has had no problems either. When it says one size fits all, it definitely means it!

I have no trouble slipping mine on and keeping it exactly where I wanted it. The trial run consisted of a rather flustered chore session, and the butterfly stayed where I put it throughout. At first I thought it seemed a little large, but it fits under pants, and skirts, (and underwear if need be) quite comfortably, and straps don't need to be pinchingly tight to keep it still.

This was my first strap-on vibe, and despite my best attempts to rip the sleeve in two, I picked up on the ups and downs of its use rather quickly, so I am calling this a good beginner toy. Also, it's cute, which is another perk when you're just getting into couples sex toy play.

The egg is the vibration center, naturally, and the silicone sleeve dampens them only slightly. The remote itself has two buttons (power, function cycle,) and a lanyard for clipping it to belt loops, keychains, a hook installed above the bedside table, whatever. There are seven functions to go through:

1) low vibe
2) med vibe
3) high vibe
4) increasing pulse cycle
5) steady pulse
6) rapid pulse
7) dot dot dash pulse cycle

I wish you could choose which function you wanted directly rather than cycle through them, but that would lead to a much bulkier remote, and one of my favorite things about this toy is its discreetness in public.

Battery use will depress you: two average uses, and the egg is dead, but there is only so much one can do for a wireless egg that size. Just keep an extra set of six A76's on hand and you'll never be disappointed. And for future reference, the remote uses a 23A.

The toy promises to be waterproof, and I see no reason why it wouldn't be: the silicone certainly is, and the seals on the egg are tight, but I've never used the full harness in the shower because I don't want to deal with soggy straps afterward.

The toy's noise varies depending on use: In harness, you can hear its higher functions (especially four, six, and seven, which you must unfortunately cycle through) in quiet settings, but at your average dinner out they would blend in with all the background noise. It's also not loud enough to be distracting during couple play.

As an egg, you're likely to hear three, five, six and seven, in a quiet setting, but the first two vibe settings are very hard to catch by ear.

I'm a bad person and just throw this in a drawer when it's not needed, which causes the straps to tangle. I don't see a good way around that other than some careful looping and rubber-banding.

The sleeve and egg are TPR silicone, and are easy to clean. This is good, since you'll be needing to clean this toy before and after each use with warm water and soap or a toy cleaner.

And, as with all silicone toys, use a water-based lube, please.

As for care, I hope I have made it clear to be gentle with the sleeve. This toy is not delicate, and will treat you well as long as you are patient with it and don't go hauling on the straps in frustration. Use lube if you're having a hard time getting the egg in, and remember to roll the sleeve off when you want the egg out rather than hauling on the loop, and you'll do just fine.

The packaging horrified me (I've been spoiled by Evolved's boxes, I think). It made me feel like the vibe was lower-quality than it actually turned out to be. But, battery needs, materials, and instructions were clear, so that's a plus.

As I said, I bought this toy as a Valentine's Day present for my boyfriend. I wore it out to dinner and gave him the remote. Everything was going just smashingly until his housemate, whom I had not yet met, sat down at the next table!

Naturally, I have to meet him. The Boy, trying to be discreet, tries to hit the power button to turn it off and give me a little respite as the introductions begin.

Instead, he hits the cycle button and ups the power from increasing pulse to rapid pulse. I never quite got his friend's name, but I am told that I had a perfectly coherent conversation with him.